It was the day after Haina hit the headlines, and conveniently enough, it was the weekend.
For the first time in a few weeks, Haina went back to the Royal Law University.
Despite it being a rest day, the campus was filled with individuals. After all, final exams were just a month away. Even if it was last-minute cramming, everyone had to begin preparing.
Haina, though, wasn't nervous in the least.
She even donned her armor and matched it with the short sword that belonged only to Inspectors, standing in front of the dormitory for girls with a bright smile watching junior students going in and out.
"Good morning, senpai!"
"Haina-senpai."
"Morning, Haina-senpai."
"By the Silver-Crowned Dragon above… Wishing you peace and health, Miss Haina-senpai."
The juniors and even same-year classmates greeted her with politeness as they walked by. Observing Haina so carefree, the studious students could not help but envy her.
They were still studying for finals, while Haina had graduated early already!
But they could never imagine—Haina did it on purpose.
She was not back because she had something to attend to.
She simply wanted to stroll carelessly across campus while everybody else was studying.
So satisfying. Ah, so satisfying.
It felt like all the stress and exhaustion she accumulated while studying for the early graduation exam had all been washed away.
The Royal Law University wasn't strictly a supernatural school.
It possessed one hundred and forty buildings and six departments. Two departments alone were responsible for instructing students in becoming supernatural creatures, and the other two focused on teaching arcane arts from other traditions.
These were termed "forbidden arts," legalized by royal charter twenty years earlier to help the kingdom prosper—notably, alchemy, artistry, preservation methods, and so on.
The remaining two departments trained high-quality civil servants for Avalon. These had the largest student populations and were filled with ordinary people.
With its crisscrossing buildings, the campus resembled a small town. It was divided into six major areas by intersecting streets, each filled with merchants and residents. One could buy nearly everything needed without ever leaving university grounds.
The Royal Law University campus occupied most of the Red Queen District. As such, locals usually called it the "University District."
Houses here were unbearably expensive—so expensive that Haina could not even dream of paying for them.
The reason the Red and White Queen districts were prestigious was because, from here, one could see the "Lake Within the Island"—with only the naked eye, from the higher floors of the school buildings, one could view the glinting silver and tin palaces in the sun.
Here, it was routine to meet knights just by going outside.
Haina was under the [Individual Tactics] Department. Although she was a supernatural creature, she nonetheless had to learn general academic courses.
This was Her Majesty the Queen's policy to enhance the quality of supernatural talent.
To make supernatural creatures nation-ruling elites with super abilities—not perpetrators of chaos. No need to placate them with special favors, because they themselves would become pillars of the kingdom.
Consequently, academic pressure at the Royal Law University was tremendous.
Iris Language, Stibnite Language, Elven Language, Advanced Mathematics, Basic Theology, Modern History, and Document Writing were compulsory general courses across all departments.
Particularly for Haina, her specialized courses consisted of Law, Tactical Jurisprudence, Swordsmanship, Aerial Riding, Battlefield Command, Path Identification, and Equipment Maintenance & Field Treatment.
On top of that, she also had to complete four electives.
She picked Applied Emerald Gemology, Anesthesiology, Wine Brewing & Production Management, and Common Animal Diseases & Treatments.
It was like a very random set of choices… but what she wanted was actually really clear and focused.
This was Haina availing herself fully of the university's rich resources in teaching and readily accessible professional texts in the library. She had selected four practical areas in which she could switch in the event that she was seriously injured or disabled in the future and could no longer perform her present work.
Since she did not know which profession would in fact make her money, however, she experimented with unrelated endeavors.
After she had the foundations, it would be simpler to make her advanced later.
At that moment, Haina suddenly shivered.
She subconsciously felt that someone was coming up behind her in silence.
A strong fear gripped her heart, widened her eyes. It was as if a gust of wind was blowing on her face—she opened her mouth to breathe, but could not inhale any air.
Her nerves bracing, she subconsciously moved towards the short sword at her waist—
"—Good morning, Haina."
A boisterous, authoritative-sounding woman's voice was heard. "Hey, don't be afraid. Put it back."
With a clink, the short sword that was half-drawn from her hand slid out and inserted itself back into the sheath, as if the sword itself did not want to be drawn in this woman's presence.
Only after that did Haina unwind and slowly release the hilt.
"Dean Meg…"
How could that big-shot suddenly show up without a peep? That frightened the living daylights out of me…
She grumbled to herself as she spun around, set her right hand against her chest, bent at the waist respectfully, and intoned, "Good morning, Dean Meg."
Standing before her was a silver-haired, high-cheeked middle-aged woman, with wrinkle lines etched on her face.
By her skin and looks, she at least looked in her fifties or sixties. But her keen eyes, toned body, and booming voice kept her looking twenty years younger.
Dean Meg's most conspicuous trait was her wide, muscular shoulders. Even among health-and-fitness freak young men, such wholesome muscle was uncommon—it caused her baggy clothes to slump noticeably.
"Ahhahahahahah!"
Meg exploded into rich laughter.
Her voice was so loud and distinct that people dozens of meters away could hear her clearly. "I knew it—you jumped, didn't you?
"But well done, Haina! A few months ago, you wouldn't have even noticed me tapping your shoulder. Now I just walk behind you and you can already sense me—that means the past few months of training weren't in vain!"
That incident was a blot on Haina's record.
She had applied for early graduation a few months ago—owing to her stellar grades, she was confident. It had drawn Dean Meg's attention, and she had personally visited to see her graduate exam.
At that time, just as today, Meg had secretly crept up behind her. But Haina hadn't detected it at all.
Meg had untied her necktie slowly too, and she hadn't sensed anything.
It wasn’t that Meg had entered stealth mode—but rather, she had forcibly erased Haina’s awareness of her presence.
A form of authority that forcefully altered perception, like calling a deer a horse.
Now at least, Haina could sense danger—
Even if Meg hadn’t gone all-out, it was still proof that Haina had grown.
After Meg appeared, the students around them visibly dispersed.
While Haina had been ringed before, now there was a huge empty circle around her.
It wasn't mere deference to a school leader.
It was because Meg emanated a strong, unmistakable aura of the "Authority" path. Those on the same path but lower in authority forbore to come near.
This lively-looking elder was one of the strongest entities in the world.
—The Grand Arbiter, Meg. Vice Director of the Tribunal.
She had the absolute power to carry out even royal blood.
She was only "Vice" Director because in Avalon, vice directorships were occasionally more influential than official ones—directors served terms of office, but vice directors did not.
Meg had occupied the vice director seat for two decades. The three-year term directors had already switched seven times—each one of them her pupil.
Even royal succession needed Meg's attendance as witness.
After the new king ascended the throne, she would be the third one to pledge allegiance.
The first was the Minister of War and foreign intelligence's leader. The second was the Round Table's Knight Commander, and also the Chancellor. The third was Meg.
Other members of the royal family did not come higher than sixth.
Being close to Old Meg was enough to get Haina's heart pounding.
She could have sworn that the smiling old lady in front of her was, in fact, a lion disguised in makeup.
—If she attempted to flee, her legs would most likely freeze with terror.
This was the woman who had brought an end to a war single-handedly.
It had happened twenty years ago, in a minor war between the Avalon Kingdom and the Iris Kingdom over border tensions—dubbed the "Ten-Day War."
When Meg came to the battlefield, one line from her made both sides put down their weapons and point their guns at the ground.
She cut a "peace boundary" into the borderlands—no one who considered himself a soldier could step across it. Approaching it would cause abject terror, leaving them frozen.
The border persisted for four years before it subsided. Now, as the two countries improved relations, it was a tourist site to mark the ten-day war.
Of course, Haina wasn't her student—she wasn't trained.
Sherlock had been offered a chance to be Meg's last disciple—but refused.
Meg didn't force the issue. But thereafter she refused to take any students at all.
It was rumored she would be resigning as vice director of the Tribunal. Everyone at Royal Law University knew—the new vice director would be their young principal.
Who had also been one of Meg's students.
"You made the papers, huh?"
Old Meg scrutinized her and inquired meaningfully.
Haina stiffened and kept her head down. "Yes… I was lucky… I didn't really do much. It was mainly Mr. Aiwass…"
"—Oh, 'Mister,' eh?"
The old woman grinned cunningly. "You respect him a lot, don't you?"
Haina stood still, her breath caught in her throat. She did not know what to say.
"No need to be embarrassed. You were good. I know him from Yanis."
Meg's voice was as unyielding as iron. "'The stronger one's righteousness is more righteous.' Regardless of whether you were his senior or not, he excelled you in that area. So you obeyed his order—that is exactly according to the philosophy of the Authority path."
Listening to this, Haina at last eased up.
To be accepted and encouraged by such a venerated person—it filled her with fresh confidence. The world began to radiate, and even her body felt lighter.
It took her courage to ask, "Dean Meg… were you looking for me?"
"That's right."
Meg had a hearty laugh. "Isn't it obvious?
"You're a good kid. Diligent and hardworking—but a bit dumb."
Even though Haina graduated early with straight A's, Meg called her "a bit dumb."
That hurt a little.
She was aware she was inferior to Sherlock… but she had no idea how talented Sherlock was compared to everyone else.
She had no idea what type of prodigies existed before him—they were all categorized now as senior officials, with their earlier records under wraps.
But noticing her reaction, Meg smiled reluctantly and continued, "But then again, we blades of the royal will, who tread the way of Authority, don't have to be that smart.
"Let me ask you—do you hear the Pelican Bar has been closed down?"
".Yes."
Makes sense.
Haina said to herself.
That was a hangout for the Crimson Nobles Society—illegals supernaturals. They couldn't possibly have been reading about Iris literature and elven poetry, could they?
"Did you know your dormmates used to hang out at the Pelican Bar?"
Noticing Haina's shocked face, Meg arched an eyebrow and continued, "[Speak the truth]."
"—Not on a regular basis," Haina spoke involuntarily, "but yes, they've gone there."
She caught on too late that she'd let something out.
But in front of a superior on the Authority path, there were no secrets.
"Were you invited?"
"They invited me once, but I refused. After that, they never asked again."
"I see."
Meg said meaningfully, "No wonder you didn’t know."
Didn’t know… what?
"Do you know what they were buying at the Pelican Bar?"
"Buying… what?"
Haina looked confused.
"Cosmetics."
Meg replied straightaway. "High-potency cosmetics manufactured by alchemists of the Stibnite Kingdom. They give skin a ten-year youthful appearance. While your dorm-mates are much too young for such cosmetics, it's natural for girls to be curious.
"Wealth of youth potions of Stibnite also have a good sale. Despite my repeated warnings to my pupils, they do use them. Side effects are muscle wasting and overall weakness."
.Ah.
Realization widened Haina's eyes.
—That's what was amiss, then.
It was something she had long observed about those exemplary girls in the capital: their skin was silky smooth, like porcelain. Though they trained in sword fighting and horsemanship just as she did, their hands remained uncalloused, their thighs untorn, their waists slim and smooth—without any trace of muscle.
She had once felt second-rate—thinking that they were superior in genetic material, and she resembled some kind of farm girl, always growing too big too fast.
Now she finally got it.
They were on pills!
"—Do you have anything to say?"
Suddenly, Dean Meg's intense stare jolted her out of daydreaming.
Her mind was blank.
I… What was I saying?
But one instant later, a thought reappeared.
"Stibnite's alchemical products… they're illegal, right?"
She whispered, "So they're smuggled… I see. That's why they stopped inviting me. They knew I was penniless.
".Wait, wasn't the Pelican Bar a hangout of the Crimson Nobles? Why would they be peddling smuggled alchemical materials?"
She sprang up suddenly. "Are the Crimson Nobles part of the smuggling ring?
"No—wait. Are they affiliated with Stibnite's regime?"
"Not too dumb, after all."
Old Meg nodded contentedly.
At last, she came to the point. "Our Stibnite informants have reported critical information—"
"W-Wait, am I even authorized to learn this…?"
Haina breathed quietly in alarm, sensing grave peril.
Meg overlooked her reticence and went on, "A shipment of high-yield, portable alchemical bombs was brought into Avalon. The destination is probably Glass Island.".
"The blast energy is sufficient to flatten the entire Red Queen District. We hadn't seen any sign of their entry—until we started inquiring about the Pelican Bar two days ago. That's when the Inspectorate found out they were brought in through there.
"You've contributed more than you know."
Meg's gaze was as keen as a hawk's.
She dared to laugh and slapped Haina on the back. "So I'm offering you an opportunity.".
"Both Inspectorate and Tribunal are looking into it. Yours wouldn't normally be involved—but you, Sherlock, and that Aiwass kid have piqued my interest.
"I'm giving you temporary approval. Investigate it. If your boss whines, have him come see me. Take any consultant you desire—whatever you require, I'll foot the bill. Even if you blow it, I'll cover it.".
"I want to know if I misestimated you a few months ago. If you three can discover crucial information prior to us…"
Meg said seriously, "Then I might just save a last disciple position for you."
*
(End of Chapter)